[Cover photo credit to Larry Marano]
Six-time Grammy-winning musician, Producer, and composer Don Was has released a rendition of The Grateful Dead’s “Crazy Fingers”. That marks the latest single from Live Dispatch Vol. 1: Blues For Allah ’26, a new live album from Don Was and the Pan-Detroit Ensemble, out November 20, 2026, via Verve.
Honoring Don’s longtime friend and collaborator Bob Weir, the album features performances captured along The Ensemble’s recent tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Grateful Dead’s Blues for Allah.
In 2018, Don joined Grateful Dead guitarist Bob Weir to form the Wolf Bros, a band that continued to tour in the U.S. and overseas until Weir’s passing in 2026.
Don Was says:
Playing with Bobby Weir and The Wolf Bros drew me deep into the music of the Grateful Dead. The songs became way more than lyrics and a chord chart – they became more like ‘friends’ that I looked forward to hanging out with night after night. We hope that this record conveys our deep respect and love for this music and for the fans who have made it such an important part of their lives.
The Pan-Detroit Ensemble features Jazz musicians from Don’s hometown, including longtime collaborator Dave McMurray on saxophone, and additional members include drummer Jeff Canady, trombonist Vincent Chandler, vocalist Steffanie Christi’an, trumpeter John Douglas, guitarist Wayne Gerard, percussionist Mahindi Masai, and keyboardist Phil Whitfield.
Was explains:
There’s a unique sound and feel to Detroit that permeates the music in a way that resonates all over the globe. There’s a rawness, a lack of pretension, and an unmistakable underlying groove that reflects the people and culture of the entire city.
Over the past five decades, Don Was has become one of music’s most respected figures, as a Producer, bassist, composer, and longtime head of Blue Note Records. His production credits span The Rolling Stones, Bonnie Raitt, Bob Dylan, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, and many others. His honors include a BAFTA Award (Backbeat), an Emmy (The Beatles: The Night That Changed America), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Americana Music Association. In addition to leading the Don Was Detroit All-Star Revue for more than 15 years, he co-hosts The Don Was Motor City Playlist on Detroit’s WDET-FM and Dinner with Don Was on SiriusXM.
